The American School of Bilbao is an International School, PK-12, private and non profit.It was founded in 1967 by a group of American and British citizens resident in the area of Bilbao, under the auspices of the Office of Overseas Schools of the U.S. State Department. The school has been accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (N.E.A.S.C.) and the Council of International Schools (C.I.S) since 1985. In 1981 the school was officially recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Education as a Foreign School in Spain. The American School of Bilbao offers students an American-style educational programme taught in English. The curriculum has an international focus and leads to the American High School Diploma. The majority of the students now come from the local area. The School is also committed to providing an education for children who are internationally mobile. Numerous nationalities are represented in the school at any given time. The course of study, along with marking, grading and reporting procedures, not only facilitates student transfer to other International or English-language schools but also prepares students for further or higher education in the host country as well as in an English language setting.